The San Francisco Chronicle has compared singer, songwriter Curt Yagi to Kenny Loggins. The "San Francisco Bay Guardian" wrote that Yagi has, "the swagger of Lenny Kravitz and the lyrical prowess of Jack Johnson." (Yagi was also the SFBG's Reader's Choice "2008 Best of the Bay Singer-Songwriters.") This past May, Yagi made the cut on the prestigious UM Choice List of USL Magazine. Ben Fong-Torres, former Senior Editor, Rolling Stone, calls Yagi an "excellent singer and songwriter," with a sound all his own. On Friday, Aug. 24, Yagi makes a return visit to The Surf Spot with his band, The People Standing Behind Me, (TPSBM).

Yagi, as a solo artist, or with members of his band, has played at such venues as Bill Graham's Civic Auditorium, San Francisco's Rockit Room, Angelica's Bistro in Redwood City, Beck's Brew House in Reno and Café du Nord San Francisco. This is the award-winning musician's second gig at the Surf Spot. He first played Pacifica's newest destination restaurant on July 13. He was joined by Jesse Van Hiller on drums, Kitt Thompson on bass, Boris Burtin on keyboards, Dirk Dieter on congas and Ben Doitel on sax. For his upcoming show at the "Spot," he's bringing the same mix of musicians plus CJ Posner on trombone and Jesse Mathews on trumpet.

Curt Yagi and TPSBM will be playing from 6-8 p.m. in the restaurant's spacious outdoor area which is well equipped with fire pits, heat lamps and blankets.

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Born and raised in Fremont, after college (UC Davis), Yagi headed to San Francisco and has lived there since. But it was back in Fremont, in high school, when Yagi first started his life as a musician. He taught himself piano.

"I saw my mom playing a rock song on the piano which blew me away," Yagi said.

It wasn't until after college that Yagi picked up the guitar. Friends of his had always played and he had wanted to learn. So in his early twenties, he got himself a guitar and never looked back. But singing, that he never planned on. He didn't think he had the voice.

"Around 2006, I started to write my own music," Yagi said. "I look back now and see that much of my music was inspired from the passing of my father." Yagi also spent the next twelve months taking on "open mic" nights and by year end, singing fit. The unassuming musician has since been featured on NBC's Today Show, KGO810, and Crosscurrents Radio, among other notable broadcasting venues.

Yagi describes his music has "happy, acoustic rock with a touch of funk for flavor." Songs from his own compositional pen he will play Friday night include — "Close My Eyes" and "Sweep Me."

Both draw from his interest in reggae/ska music when he was growing up, and one, "Sweep Me," turned Yagi into a 2011 KFOG artist. (His song made the cut on the station's preeminent "Local Scene" CD.) Yagi and his band will also have a number of covers on their play menu, along with a couple of "straight rock" Yagi tunes, "If Only" and "Just Another Day."

By day, Yagi is the Executive Director of the nonprofit R.O.C.K. (Real Options For City Kids).

"I might be the rare musician who has a day job that I enjoy in addition to my work as a musician," Yagi said. "I have found a good balance where I can manage both careers without too much stress." Yagi's latest record is the 2011 "Close My Eyes," (www.curtyagi.com). It is listed as one of the "Hidden Gems" by All Access magazine (AAM).

"I think (hope), I have something meaningful to say," Yagi said of his music. "In Pacifica, I love that the audience really appreciates new, original music coming to town. My last show at the Surf Spot was great. My entire band felt so welcome. You could feel the positivity from the crowd."